Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio called it “a domino effect” when you add a standout player to an already talented team and productive unit.
“I don’t think it helps just one position,” Fangio said Tuesday. “It helps everybody.”
Fangio dropped that line when answering a question about edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. And the 67-year-old defensive coordinator was spot on.
Phillips has been the perfect trade deadline acquisition for the Super Bowl champs. He has stood out individually, and he’s elevated the Eagles’ defense to an elite level in the process — giving Birds fans confidence that, even with a struggling offense, they can defend their title.
On Nov. 3, Howie Roseman and the Eagles sent a 2026 third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Phillips. Miami even paid $5.1 million of his salary to help make the deal happen, leaving only $1.5 million for the Eagles to pick up.
The 26-year-old, playing on the last season of his rookie deal, was seen as a one-year rental with contract extension upside. And Phillips has earned that consideration with his play.
Since joining the Eagles in Week 10, Phillips has recorded 41 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Only three edge rushers — the Texans’ Will Anderson, Vikings’ Danielle Hunter and Jaguars’ Josh Hines-Allen — have more than him in that same time frame.
On the season, Phillips’ 18.8% pass-rush win rate — the percentage of times he’s beating the blocker in front of him — ranks sixth among edge rushers with 400+ snaps. The only players ahead of him? Anderson, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, Aidan Hutchinson and Hunter.
That’s good company to keep individually, and it’s been beneficial for the defense as a unit.
Since Phillips’ Week 10 debut, the Eagles have allowed 14.5 points per game — the best mark in the league. Fangio’s unit has set the tone, picked up the slack for a frustrating offense and carried the team to wins over the Packers, Lions and Bills.
Sunday in Buffalo was the perfect example. The offense stagnated in the second half and nearly blew a 13-0 lead. But Phillips and the rest of Fangio’s defense dominated. They limited the AFC’s Super Bowl favorites to 12 points, swarming to the ball and knocking around Josh Allen. The reigning league MVP was sacked five times, hit three times and hurried 19 times.
Phillips had a part to play in that. He pressured Allen seven times total (one sack, one hit, five hurries). He forced Allen’s momentum-shifting fumble, which was recovered by Jihaad Campbell and later converted into the Eagles’ only touchdown. And he chased down Allen on the game-deciding play, a rushed two-point throw on the run that fell harmlessly incomplete.
Phillips made his presence felt, just as he did in his debut against the Packers (eight pressures) and as he’s done throughout his brief time in Philly.
The thing about the addition of Phillips, though, is that it doesn’t feel like he’s a newcomer. His familiarity with Fangio, having worked with him in Miami in 2023, has surely helped. But Phillips has slotted in and worked in conjunction with the rest of the front to make the QB’s life hell.
That has had a trickle down effect — or a domino effect — on the rest of the Eagles’ defense. And it’s positioned Philadelphia nicely to make another postseason run.
“I’ve only been here for a month and a half. But I feel like I’ve known these guys for years,” Phillips said after the win vs. Buffalo. “… I’m just blessed to be here.”
